Ezekiel 21:11 kjv
And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.
Ezekiel 21:11 nkjv
And He has given it to be polished, That it may be handled; This sword is sharpened, and it is polished To be given into the hand of the slayer.'
Ezekiel 21:11 niv
"?'The sword is appointed to be polished, to be grasped with the hand; it is sharpened and polished, made ready for the hand of the slayer.
Ezekiel 21:11 esv
So the sword is given to be polished, that it may be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished to be given into the hand of the slayer.
Ezekiel 21:11 nlt
Yes, the sword is now being sharpened and polished;
it is being prepared for the executioner.
Ezekiel 21 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 10:5 | Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the club in their hand is my fury! | Assyria as God's instrument of wrath. |
| Jer 51:20 | "You are my war club, my weapon of war; with you I shatter nations..." | Babylon as God's chosen battle-axe. |
| Deut 32:41-42 | if I sharpen my flashing sword... I will make my arrows drunk with blood | God's sharpened sword for vengeance. |
| Ps 7:12-13 | If a man does not repent, God will sharpen his sword; he has bent... | God's readiness to execute judgment. |
| Isa 34:5 | For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; behold, it descends on Edom | The Lord's sword descending in judgment. |
| Jer 12:12 | On all the bare heights in the desert destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD devours | Widespread destruction by God's sword. |
| Hos 11:6 | A sword shall rage against their cities, consume their bars... | Devastating judgment on sinful cities. |
| Zec 11:4-6 | ...buy the flock doomed to slaughter... their own shepherd has no pity. | Shepherd appointed for slaughter (judgment). |
| Joel 3:13 | Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe... press the grapes, for the winepress is full. | Readiness for divine harvest (judgment). |
| Amo 9:1-4 | "Though they dig into Sheol... none shall escape, not one." | Inescapability of divine judgment. |
| Lam 2:10 | The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground in silence... | Lament over destruction of Jerusalem. |
| Ezr 9:8 | ...to give us a little reviving in our bondage, to lighten our eyes... | Remembrance of captivity, mercy after judgment. |
| Neh 9:30 | ...yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples. | Consequence of stubborn rebellion. |
| Lev 26:25 | And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall execute vengeance for the covenant. | Covenant curse for disobedience. |
| Matt 10:34 | "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." | Sword bringing division (spiritual judgment). |
| Rev 1:16 | In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword. | Christ's judging word. |
| Rev 19:15 | From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. | Christ as judge with a sharp sword. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life... | Consequence of sin, divine judgment (death). |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | Divine principle of consequence and judgment. |
| Job 27:21 | The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place. | God's sudden destructive acts. |
| Psa 44:2-3 | With your hand you drove out the nations, but them you planted... | God's hand in historical events/judgments. |
| Ecc 8:8 | No one has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. | Human helplessness before divine decree. |
| Judg 7:20 | And they cried, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" | Literal sword for military victory/judgment. |
Ezekiel 21 verses
Ezekiel 21 11 Meaning
Ezekiel 21:11 proclaims the preparation of God's sword of judgment. It highlights the divine hand in sharpening and readying this fearsome weapon. The verse conveys the certainty and imminence of the coming destruction, indicating that this sword is not merely for show but meticulously prepared for its appointed task by a chosen executioner, signifying swift and crushing divine wrath.
Ezekiel 21 11 Context
Ezekiel chapter 21 unfolds a vivid and terrifying prophecy known as "The Sword of the Lord." God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy against Jerusalem and the land of Israel, repeatedly emphasizing the drawing of a supernaturally sharpened sword from its scabbard. This sword represents God's impending judgment, to be wielded by the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, as His chosen instrument. The chapter speaks of an indiscriminate destruction that will fall upon both the righteous and the wicked, signifying a comprehensive purging of the land due to their unrepentant sin and idolatry. Verse 11, specifically, intensifies the horror by stressing the meticulous preparation of this divine weapon. Historically, Judah had continually rebelled against God despite numerous warnings and had placed false trust in human alliances rather than relying on Him, leading to their prophesied destruction and exile in 586 BC. This passage polemically challenges any human security or belief in local deities by showing YHWH's absolute control over international powers and their fate.
Ezekiel 21 11 Word analysis
And he hath given it / And it is given (וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָהּ - vayitēn ʾōtāh): The Hebrew verb is third-person masculine singular, "and he gave it." While a direct agent isn't explicitly named, the passive interpretation ("it is given") implies divine agency. God is the ultimate actor behind the preparation of the sword, emphasizing His sovereign will and initiative in judgment.
to be polished / to sharpen (לְהַלְטִישׁ - lehaltīš): Derived from the root latash, meaning "to sharpen, polish, burnish." This highlights the careful preparation of the blade, making it highly effective and lethal. It speaks to meticulous divine attention to the instrument of judgment.
that it may be handled / that it may be grasped / for the grasping of it (לְקַרְנָהּ - leqarnāh): The interpretation varies among scholars. It could mean "to shine, gleam" (from qaran), referring to the visual terror of a polished, gleaming sword. Alternatively, it can mean "for grasping," implying its readiness to be seized and wielded by an agent. Both interpretations emphasize the sword's complete preparedness for action.
this sword is sharp / It is sharpened (הִיא חַדָּה - hī ḥaddāh): Ḥaddāh means "sharp." This reiterates the lethality and precision of the weapon. The inherent quality of the sword is critical to its devastating function.
and it is ready / very (מְאֹד - meʾōd): This intensifier emphasizes the degree of sharpness – "very sharp." It underscores the extreme effectiveness of God's chosen instrument of wrath.
for the hand of the slayer / in the hand of the oppressor / executioner (בְּיַד מַלְחִץ - beyad malḥiṣ):
- בְּיַד (beyad): "In the hand of," denoting control, authority, and agency. The sword is precisely placed in the agent's hand.
- מַלְחִץ (malḥiṣ): This powerful noun means "oppressor," "tormentor," or "one who crushes/slaughters/executes." It signifies a violent and relentless agent of destruction. In this context, it refers to Nebuchadnezzar and his army, but implicitly as God's executioner, carrying out His judgment.
it shall be / it will be (תִּהְיֶה - tīhyey): Future tense, cementing the certainty and inevitability of the sword's purpose being fulfilled.
Words-group Analysis:
- "And it is given to be polished, that it may be grasped": This phrase denotes the divine commission and painstaking preparation of the instrument of judgment. It’s not a crude weapon but a finely tuned tool. God's involvement is personal and detailed.
- "this sword is sharp, very, and it is ready for the hand of the slayer": This highlights the terrifying efficacy and readiness of the sword. The emphasis on "very sharp" signals merciless action, and "ready for the hand of the slayer" seals its violent purpose under divine command, underscoring the inevitability of the judgment. The "slayer" acts under divine permission and compulsion.
Ezekiel 21 11 Bonus section
- Personification of the Sword: The sword is often personified in prophetic literature as an active agent, almost having its own will, though ultimately subservient to God's purpose. Here, its "readiness" implies an eagerness or fulfillment of its inherent, divinely assigned function.
- The "Hand" of God's Agent: The phrase "in the hand of the slayer" (בְּיַד מַלְחִץ) highlights both human agency (the slayer's actions) and divine control (God places it in his hand). This showcases God's sovereignty even over wicked nations who serve unknowingly as His instruments of justice.
- Poetic Device (Parallelism): The earlier verses in Ezekiel 21 establish a parallelism in "sword...sword...sword" for rhythmic and emphatic effect, intensifying the motif of inescapable judgment. Verse 11 reinforces this through description of the sword's perfect state for its deadly work.
- Polemics against False Security: This passage powerfully counters any misplaced confidence in Jerusalem's fortifications, political alliances, or even religious rituals. God Himself is preparing the instrument of its demise, demonstrating that no earthly power can stand against His determined judgment.
Ezekiel 21 11 Commentary
Ezekiel 21:11 underscores the deliberate and fearsome nature of God's impending judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. It removes any doubt about the divine origin and specific purpose of the destruction. The detailed description of the sword being "polished" and "very sharp" highlights that this is no random attack or an unfortunate accident, but a carefully orchestrated act of divine justice. The reference to it being "ready for the hand of the slayer" identifies the chosen agent of this wrath – historically, Nebuchadnezzar – but more profoundly, it positions this human king as an instrument in God's sovereign plan. The language here signifies not just war, but an execution; a divine appointment for a crushing defeat, bringing to bear the consequences of generations of unfaithfulness. There is no escape from a judgment that has been so meticulously prepared and is to be wielded by one designated for that very purpose.